Hull City's board had planned to appoint Marco Silva as manager last summer, it has been revealed.

The Daily Mail says they resisted a pursuit fearful of further antagonizing their fans.

The 39-year-old Portuguese was the next port of call for vice-chairman Ehab Allam after failing to lure Wales manager Chris Coleman.

With supporters already up in arms about a raft of issues including the resignation of Steve Bruce, the most successful manager in the club's history, the ongoing bid to drop City from its traditional name and replace it with Tigers plus a controversial membership scheme, Ehab Allam – running things at the KCOM Stadium due to father Assem's ill health – resisted a move which would undoubtedly have caused further agitation.

Indeed, there had been an increasing external pressure to appoint temporary head coach Mike Phelan after a start of seven points from three matches. It took until October 13 for the contract to be formalised.